Andrew Bolt ‘won’t be silenced’ by the Press Council, as he ‘refuses to respect’ proceedings
Political commentator Andrew Bolt has claimed he will not answer any questions or respect Press Council proceedings around an article he wrote about mass immigration.
Bolt’s latest article, published by The Daily Telegraph on August 6, said no official body should “interfere in the exchange of opinions”.
The column, published on Monday August 6
Headlined, ‘I won’t be silenced’ with the sub-heading, ‘The Press Council is in no shape to pass judgement on my immigration views’, Bolt said he did not recognise its “moral right” to shut down debate, telling readers he would not answer any question a body puts to him and would “refuse to respect its usual request for proceedings to be treated confidentially”.
It follows a column Bolt wrote about mass immigration, which has allegedly received an ‘unspecified number of complaints’. The article argued a “tidal wave” of immigrants is swamping Australia and changing culture.
“It is time to fight the forces of shut-uppery that have stifled debates on exactly the issues that need them most,” Bolt wrote.
“This shutting down isn’t done just by our notorious thought police whenever the left is challenged – by the Press Council, courts and various human rights councils and tribunals that have persecuted cartoonists, students, bishops and conservatives for expressing their opinions.”
Bolt added he would never subject himself to a jury which includes David Fagan. Fagan is an adjunct professor at the Queensland University of Technology, a member of the Press Council’s adjudication panel and a former editorial director at News Corp, who last year boasted he “never published Bolt”.
News Corp, publisher of The Daily Telegraph, is a member of the Press Council. The company’s industry nominee member is Glenn Stanaway, group managing editor.
A spokesperson for News Corp told Mumbrella: “Andrew is an opinion columnist and has expressed his opinion.”
The company has not responded to questions about whether it will abide by Press Council rulings on Bolt’s columns.
The Press Council said: “Complaints about the Andrew Bolt article published on 2 August in The Daily Telegraph are being dealt with according to the Press Council’s usual procedures. It is not the Press Council’s policy to make public comments on individual complaints made to it.”
The silent majority – who will not be silent any longer – support you Andrew Bolt. We’ve had enough of these cowardly lynch-mobs, every one of which has been infiltrated by Leftist activists, seeking to suppress open debate and discussion. These latter-day Stasi have infiltrated academia, bureaucracy and even boardrooms, and it’s time they were identified, exposed and publicly shamed for their censorious totalitarianism.
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Amazed how brands are comfortable being associated with this bigoted human [edited under Mumrbella’s comment moderation policy].
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Interesting (and chilling) development in the way racist narratives are given the space to spread through mainstream platforms.
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Well said, Mike.
Forty years ago there were 13 Australian universities. Today there are 42.
And the additional 29, since their establishment, have spent much of their time indoctrinating young Australians – well, those who’d listen – to their Marxist clap trap.
I speak as someone who has lectured, full time and part time, at three of them.
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They are comfortable with being associated with Andrew Bolt because they recognise his right to put his point of view in the discussion about immigration just as you have a right to put your point of view on the matter. But you squandered your opportunity, Nic, by choosing denigrate the person rather than contribute to the discussion by putting an alternative point-of-view. Pity.
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It is only a little way from racist comment to white supremacists marching with torches and chanting about Jews as they did so evilly in Charlottesville last year.
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The moment somebody uses the word ‘leftist’ the credibility more than fades. Back in your box silent Mike!
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In what way has he been silenced? He is published in the biggest newspapers in the country. Freedom of speech isn’t freedom from consequence.
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well said, bravo
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“Queensland University if Technology” a very true appelation, if unintended
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This is sarcasm…
…right?
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Free speech means Andrew Bolt having the right to offend whomever the hell he wants whenever the hell he wants to.
Sadly, neither Australia’s Constitution nor the Press Council gives Andrew Bolt no such freedom. In fact, many Australians don’t believe in free speech – except opinions that accord with their own.
Yet free speech is meaningless unless it includes the freedom to offend.
You either support free speech or you don’t. You support unfettered freedom of speech, including freedom to express hate.
Why should the law hold Andrew Bolt accountable for hurting someone’s feelings?
No freedom of speech means no freedom of thought.
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Good on Bolt. You don’t have to agree with him but some biased “press council” dictating what he can and cannot say is ridiculous. Where’s the press council when it comes to Clementine Ford’s offensive opinion pieces?
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yeah, nah
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These are the words of a scumbag who thinks he is above the law and protected by higher powers
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These are my favourite kinds of typos, TT1.
Nevertheless, it was my error and I have corrected it.
Apologies and thanks for flagging,
Vivienne – Mumbrella
You’re arguing a point that, by virtue of the article being published and upheld, doesn’t exist.
Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences.
He’s allowed the platform, and he’s allowed to say what he’s said.
Enough people have raised objection to what he’s said to warrant the request for a line of questioning that could result in him being told many people think he’s a twat.
He can ignore that, or he can take it on board – up to him. He’s not going to prison – people are allowed to disagree and publicly tell him so.
And that is also freedom of speech.
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Mike, 65, screams about totalitarianism, dreams about totalitarianism.
You: Must be a non-smoker, white or SE Asian, not tell me I am emotionally disconnected like my ex-wives all did, enjoy infowars videos. Age not an issue.
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Really impressed to see all these elderly white males taking time out of their busy schedule defending freedom of speech for women and LGBTQI folks in third world nations.
At least I hope that’s what they do, because if they only crawl out from under their rocks to defend the freedom of speech for white male bigots, well, I think we all know what’s going on there, don’t we?
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Blatantly obvious to me that Bolt spouts this stuff to get reactions and hence readers. Like so many before him in various media – especially talkback radio.
Obviously it works…. his masters will be well pleased.
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The Guardian pointed out a number of basic statistical errors he made in the article. So I’d appreciate he’d probably be too embarrassed to defend it.
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Well said Mike & well said Rick – 100% correct
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Does that include Lenin? He wrote an entire book called “Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder” (1920). Also known as “The Infantile Sickness of ‘Leftism’ in Communism”. Perhaps worth revisiting in these dumbed-down times.
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Public disagreement with speech is not the same thing at all as a Press Council attempt to smother said speech.
I would add “Free Tommy Robinson!”, but he’s already been sprung, with the judge making very adverse comment on the authorities who imprisoned him.
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What law did he break?
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I am offended by any extreme views. Andrew Bolt and Clementine Ford are cut from the same cloth – extreme views that marginalize others. However ordinary their views I defend their right to express them.
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My havent these Australians become a prissy lot
Give me the old tall bronzed Aussie who slapped you on the back saying your not bad for a pommy B
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Yes Andrew, you poor little petal, the nasty old left are trying to shut you down again are they. Tell me sweety, who exactly is it that publishes your most widely read columns again. Ohh that’s right it uncle Rupert isn’t it ?, spreading your message nation wide. Nothing like those terrible forms of censorship with the mouth breathers of the right wing lapping it up. Perhaps if Blot, Miranda The Devine, the arm breaker Latham and other cultural reverse effluent pipes lived in a REAL dictatorship they’d complain considerably less about losing their freedoms. One final word of advice to the Bolsta and his ilk. Keep chasing karmic ambulances for long enough and you’ll soon get run over.
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Good on you Andrew.
To the snowflake fascists; did Andrew say anything which is untrue?
The saying is: when in Rome, do as the Romans. When in Australia, do as Australians. I came here and I celebrate Australia day, ANZAC Day and the Queens birthday. Not the celebratory days of the country where I came from.
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Andrew Bolt is right.
Too many people come here and try to change our ways. We were once a great country with great values and now no one can say anything without being offended. The politicians are too weak. When strong issues are pointed out, they bury their heads in the sand . Time to confront the real issues people. Some things are just not meant to be tested to see how it will work before it’s too late. Keep your heads buried silly ignorant people. When you come up for air, then you will see the mess we are going to be in.
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Exactly Mark. At the end of the day Bolt and all the other right wing reprobates want free speech for THEMSELVES and other powerful voices.
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Keep up the good work, Andrew. The majority of genuine Aussies are behind you.
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Exactly Mark. At the end of the day Bolt and all the other right wing reprobates want free speech for THEMSELVES and other powerful voices.
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Just because he doesn’t agree with your way of viewing things does not make him a bigot. It’s his opinion. And in a democracy he has the right to express that opinion.
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Well said.
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Good on you Andrew don’t give into the mindless arrogant thought police!
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Australia needs people like Andrew Bolt. He applies debates with a greater sense of common sense rather than emotive opinions.
The whining loud minorities opinions do not trump others. This is an example of freedom of speech in theory only.
Bolt you have more support than you know and people like yourself allow for somewhat a more balanced discussion. Your the man !
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I’m pretty sure Andrew Bolt knows most people think he’s a twat…. and doesn’t care
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How is it that the extreme left can say all they like about daily issues, yet a middle of the road journo gets requests about his or her comments. I think it is about time these press councils are taken to task by the civil liberties bodies and the officials removed. They are all labor appointed any way and should have no power of input on popular issues.
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I love Andrew Bolt. He makes you think. Don’t have to agree with him. But he does care for this country, and i believe the larger world. He has a good heart
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The national Blot. He truly needs to grow up and talk about his immigrant family.
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The Blot on the nation has to be prepared for consequences.
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..just as when someone uses the term ‘neo-nazi’ or ‘extreme right’…..don’t ya think. The credibility sinks further when the word ‘bigot’ is added…..lol
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I found Bolt’s article offensive and racist. Would he like to bring back the White Australia Policy ?
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Keep up the good work Andrew. The majority of rational non-leftist Australians agree with you. The left are loud mouthed intimidating bullies always threatening aggression to get their way and close down free speech (except theirs). If you lack rational thought (like the lefties) then you can only rely on emotion to form argument (by intimidation, threats, bullying, opinions based only on emotion and not logic and reasoning). I dread how this tidal wave of non-logical thought and leftist aggression is sweeping Australia and a lot of the world. I am not proud of Australia since the Turnbull, the leftist non- conservative government, came to power. We need to get rid of this leftist government and go back to rational conservative views.
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Agree with you totally. I lectured at an Australian University also (Faculty of Education). The Marxists, Postmodern Feminists, and Socially Critical Theorists disallowed any thought which did not support their ideology. It was not a place for expression of anything except the left wing blurb. We already have an overgrowth of politically correct ideology stultifying/smothering thought and speech in Australia without the remaining worthwhile representatives of the media, like Andrew Bolt, being repressed.
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Andrew Bolt is 1000pc correct!!!!!
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Interesting (and chilling) development in the way that Leftist narratives are given space to spread through mainstream platforms.
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The problem with satire is that people may mistake it for a real opinion or that it reflects reality. Nice satire Mike! Not subtle but still a good laugh.
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You’re not a ‘silent majority’, Mike, just a fringe racist. The majority think you’re beneath contempt.
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Bolt is a performance artist. He’d be an anarchist or a stripper if it paid well.
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@Tibor @Paridell
Perspective sheeple! A bigot is a bigot who, in most cases has far right views.
Randomly bleating out ‘leftist’ at people who are central or even sometimes centre right, is plain ignorance.
Keep following your master and don’t dream of thinking for yourselves.
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@Amie
‘We were once a great country…’ ‘Great values’ – was the whites only policy one such great value?
Do you share an IP address with a few other posters on this forum? Or are you one of Sky News (Murdoch’s / Fox News) / Andrew Bolt’s PR goblins trolling away….?
To the advertisers: #stopfundinghate
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Narrator: By ‘Leftist narratives’, Mike of course meant ‘Anything not racist’, and thought he was pretty clever in doing so. His audience of adoring baby boomers pressed their morphine pumps in homage to his razor sharp wit.
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It’s a sad day when you come to a site promoting PR and Marketing news and you find a comment section full of baby boomers convinced the world is under the shadowy thumb of Obama and his globalist network of New World Order Jewish Communist Banker Reverse Vampires who are using chemtrails and fluoride to turn the frogs gay and poison our food supply so we all have to receive socialist handouts that contain microchips branding us with 666 so the beast can arise and usher in armageddon on everyone except for those who don’t drink protective concoctions of activated charcoal and colloidal silver.
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no official body should “interfere in the exchange of opinions”.
So… he’s gonna tell Mitch & crew to lay off the ABC, in the same spirit?
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I COMMEND YOU, What happenned to a right of FREE SPEECH. What happenned to our funny way of dealing with drama.W H
to OUR WAY OF LIFE. So who are we if we have to check with the POLITICALLY RIGHT PEOPLE when WE SPEAK about LIFE. You can’t please everyone, now we can’t even please ourselves. Or who are the HYPOCRITES here. Or are we ALL HYPOCRITES. Thankyou Andrew as ITS ABOUT TIME someone has the balls to stand up for our lost love for LIFE.
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Well said. I agree
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Keep up the good work Andrew.You must be doing something right as you have the Luvvies in a tiz
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You’re so right
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When I worked with him he seemed to be more an alp type. In any case bland. I tend to agree that he has invented this persona to make a quid.
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He hasn’t been silenced Daniel. It’s just that Bolt is such a narcissistic chickens&*t ego junkie that it doesn’t occur to him that people actually have the RIGHT to disagree with him. And people, don’t be gulled by Blots self pitying whine ; the truth of the matter is he’s an publicity wh*re with a Godzilla sized warped ego. Take that away from him and he’d psychologically suffocate in a matter of minutes.
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Disallowing any thought that didn’t support their ideology eh Erin ? Sounds a bit like ohh let’s see, The Australian, Herald Sun, The Advertiser, Fox News, Sky News…. well sweety I’m sure you get the picture.
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Mike sweety, which SILENT members of the right would that be,ohh let’s see, Pauline Hanson, George Christensen, Tony Abbott, Rowan Dean, Miranda Devine, John Howard,Nick Cater and Blair Cottrell. It always fascinates me that you tightey righties regard yourselves as A. the majority ( you aren’t most people are fed up with the false dualism of left and right ) and B. silent ( refer to list above ). If it’s any consolation though, now that Fairfax has been poleaxed, you’ll have even one ‘more forum to spout blinkered,regressive, pig ignorant and philistinic views. Cheers.
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Actually, judging by the responses here, it’s ‘elderly white fascist sympathisers’ who are ‘in a tizz’.
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He does talk about his immigrant family, quite openly, especially when his father passed away earlier this year.
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Before you call us luvvies etc, try living in Arncliffe, where if you don’t wear a hijab, you are robbed harassed while you going about your business
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THANKYOU Anonymous THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.Important subjects seem to get lost, just like the title WOG stands for. Ah does anyone know what it actually stands for.?Let’s see are you all in suspense or fuming??? Let’s see how many truly know? To be continued….
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Chilling is it sweety. Aren’t you tightey righties always telling us that global warming doesn’t exist. One would think that ANY narrative involve ‘chilling’ you’d welcome. After all, like your mentor Bolt, you’re all ‘experts’ on climate, unlike the poor silly sods who have degrees in it and have actually studied it all their lives.
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Andrew Bolt = common sense. Sadly lacking across a spectrum of political opinion that has been submerged by sanctimonious virtue signalling that gives these people a nice warm fuzzy feeling sitting around their inner city dinner party debates with their progressive mates.
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I think it’s ( originally ) supposed to have stood for, Worthy Oriental Gentleman. At least that’s what my grandma told me.
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Kerian sweety, he was calling the LEFTIES luvvies. Do pay attention.
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Well IB, given that somewhat panting, cliche ridden rant, you could have at LEAST mentioned something about lattes ; after all you tightey righties seem to have an obsession with that much derided drink. Or at least you think all lefties do.
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Freedom of speech is freedom from consequences. If there are consequences from your speech – like going to jail or getting fined – then speech is not free.
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Andrew Bolt is an idiot. But he should have the right to express his idiot opinion without the Press Council intervening to tell him which opinion is ‘allowable’
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Unfortunately IIA, THAT type of freedom doesn’t exist EVEN on a universal level. EVERYTHING we do in our lives has consequences ; this is just the way the universe works. Most of us understand and except this with some kind of grace. It’s only the Bolts of world who complain and carry on about. Or to put it another way, be careful how hard you throw karma’s boomerang lest it strike you JUST as hard on its return trip.
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“My freedom of speech is in jeopardy!”
He screams from the column inches of one of the biggest newspapers in the country.
The only reason he refuses to answer any questions is because he knows they’ll ask “Andrew, what orifice did you pull those stats from this time?” and he’s too embarrassed to tell them the answer.
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@Oh Dear?
You actually used the word ‘sheeple’?? Ha ha
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Which one of those organizations is demanding censorship of opposing views? Be specific.
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Whenever a leftist hack can’t refute you on merit, out comes the namecalling and accusations of being a bot. How ignorant they are not to see that they all follow the exact same pattern. In America, it’s “The Russians” who are responsible for everything leftists don’t like. It’s NEVER them, now matter how screwed up the places they control are.
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Hmm. Bolt thinks there’s too much immigration.
Okay.
I propose step 1 of immigration reform to be deporting all children of immigrants from Holland.
I’ve randomly selected all males aged born in Adelaide in September 1959 who have initials first name A, second name B, to begin the process.
Godspeed, September 59 babies of Dutch descent named A B, born in Adelaide, whoever those happen to be.
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Err… since when is Turnbull a leftist?
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I love Andrew Bolt, he is such a breath of fresh air.
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Bolt is a fighter, with both pen & fists.
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I agree.
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WOG. Means ” without guarantee” This term was used in second world war for people misplaced throughout Europe and accepted by Western nations.The term WOP ” without papers” was used by the Americans who settled those misplaced persons.Most misplaced persons had no belongings or I. D. and were taken on trust.
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